Chelsea -

Wed Aug 1 - 20:05

WHAT HAPPENED

Petr Cech saved two more penalties as we fought back to pip Chelsea in the International Champions Cup in Dublin.

Our goalkeeper denied Alvaro Morata from the spot in normal time and then kept out Rueben Loftus-Cheek’s penalty in the shootout - setting up Alex Iwobi to convert the winner.

That all followed a dramatic finale to the 90 minutes that saw Alex Lacazette score from close range with virtually the last kick of the match. It was a deserved equaliser after we forced Chelsea back in the second half.

The first half belonged largely to our London rivals and they took an early lead when Antonio Rudiger powered in an unchallenged header from Cesc Fabregas’ corner.

It almost got worse. The pacy Callum Hudson-Odoi got in behind Hector Bellerin, raced into the penalty area and was clipped as he checked back inside. But Cech flung himself to his right to deny Morata.

We came alive when Mesut Ozil got into the game, bending beautiful passes into the path of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and then Henrikh Mkhitaryan to help set up chances for Emile Smith Rowe and Aubameyang.

We stayed in the ascendancy from then onwards. Mkhitaryan had a deflected shot saved by Willy Caballero, Aubameyang had an effort blocked after a delicious flick from Ozil set him up, and substitute Lacazette was inches away from finding the bottom corner.

In the end the Frenchman did get his goal - and this time our penalties were all converted.